zoomer1979

Where to start. Wheels, all removed and split to put on the low friction axle based pickups from DCC Concepts, gauge then checked when put back on. Stepped pinpoint axle bearings fitted into bogie frames after opening existing holes to take them. When wheel sets put back in, insured to fit one for each polarity, one set to pick up left rail, the other right rail, use existing wiring for now to power coach lights. My set is fully fitted with DCC sound, so there are speakers in the driving trailers and NDMs. I found previously that I can switch the coach lights using the purple wire from the ESU V5 chips, so these will be through wired from the driving ends of each half. In terms of through connections I have planned to put through the purple for the coach lights, a track power bus and a pair of speaker wires that will carry the sound of the tilt pumps to each coach. This was recorded from the sound chips onto a generic birthday card sound chip and loops every 20secs when activated. Not got control for it yet, but I'm thinking magic wand. Finally, just taken delivery of the rest of the super capacitors to do every intermediate coach with a proper anti flicker, the wired through purple wire will activate them anyway. Interior will be detailed and painted with the correct colours as per @cheshirelines and others. That's it I think. A lot of work I shouldn't have had to do, but everyone has there own levels of expectations. Regards Neil. P.S. I remember taking photos of the bogies but can't find where I posted them. Maybe a PM, but not in this thread as far as I can tell.

Hi folks, With little prospect of a proper WR Pullman to the same standards as the Midland Pullman, I have managed to acquire 2 of the less desirable yellow ended sets to try and make one up. The easy bit is to swap the bogies on the kitchen car to be both the unpowered type. But I now realise that on the WR it faced the other way compared to the MR. This means a coupling issue, so turn the body/interior round? Not so as the roof light connector is at one end only, so lots more work to be done. It will be a hard slog with lots of window alterations and coupling swaps on the cards. And I'll put good money on someone announcing the WR Pullman just as I get finished! It's on the list of projects for the long term. Neil.

I wonder if any of the buffered HSTs are available for use by LSL so that an HST coach rake can be used 🤔 Neil.

Hi all, Successful installation of the first super capacitor. I got the 22f ,5.5v and it was fitted in place of the 45 gallon drum capacitor that Hornby supplied. Lost patience after 5 mins waiting on the lights dying off! Have ordered the balance from China, so a wee while to wait. But between the pinpoint bearings, low friction pickups and some through wiring, I hope I now have an ultimate version of the APT-P. Neil.

Lovely sound of the fans running at various speeds, a particularly load drone on the ones passing at full bore. Neil.

Got some of the 0.22f capacitors to try on my first batch APT. But I'm not at all confident on which leg is positive on these ones. It's not like there is a big + on one leg. There are arrows. The ones on the second batch look to be the same as I have bought. Are they negative to the top, the way the legs are attached? Neil.

Yes, I quite agree. I'm going to ask to get it reblown at Model Rail Scotland this coming weekend. Hopefully Charlie is in a good mood! Neil.

Here is a look at the function list as I've found it. The horns aren't playable F8 does nothing, flange squeak is just the one sound irrespective of speed and F11 increases engine speed and it stays that way even when stopping. Neil.

Hi, recently bought a DCC Sound fitted Bachmann Class 37, advertised as Legomanbiffo sounds. It is not the usual sounds and functions and I have contacted the seller to say it was not. He insisted it is, but an early one. Here is a picture of it. I'm hoping I can confirm it is not as advertised. Neil.

My 7120 has just arrived. On opening I noticed a hole in the plastic cover over the loco by the whistle. Unrolled it out and sure enough a stump where a whistle should be. I'm going to search through the packaging to see if the whistle is in there somewhere to reattach, otherwise a return might have to happen. It will be getting run tomorrow. Neil.

The sounds may not be authentic, but two different gas turbines with different drive setups should sound different. At the very least the pitch of the turbine should be different as stated in the design specs of the original locos. Neil.

I have to say I'm encouraged by what I have read so far on the model. It really looks like a step up in realism for the heavy haulers, like Bachmann and Accurascale have done for the 37s. I'm a Scottish region modeller, so I'd be looking for a late numbered 5612x in coal sector livery, second run possibly? Never did get round to buying a Hornby, still got my Dapol/Mainline! 😂 Neil.

I got my BR Black 20002 last week and ran it for the first time yesterday. I'm very impressed with the detail levels. I intend on fitting a sound chip next month. I too found some running problems. The pickups were not reaching the wheels at full deflection. Easily solved with someone manipulation. One bogie, its axles were very stiff laterally, so these were oiled and worked back and forth. This made it a smooth and consistent runner. Over all, a great model I would never have expected in ready to run. Neil.

Spent money on paint but nothing on maintenance, anyone got a spare headcode lamp? Neil.

Personally, my table lamps are on a separate function from the general lighting. My F0 does the head lights, tail light and coach lighting and I have F9 for the table lamps on their own. I'm guessing you are on the Bachmann supplied DCC chips? Neil.

I remember my Dad taking a razor saw to a Lima Deltic in order to get it to it's correct length, even getting the more correct sized bogies from the 37 to go under it. Within months Bachmann announced their model and it seemed a waste of time!

Is anyone else curious about where Accurascale are getting their Mirrlees engine sounds from? I've been searching for a good while and the only genuine one I've heard is a couple of seconds on a British Transport Film. Surely that's not enough to go on. Any clues? Neil.

I don't suppose you remember how it sounded? Did it make a weird noise like a Class 323 EMU with its AC motors? Neil.

Anyone planning on modelling the Hawk version of this loco. I'm tempted due to the further discounts on the models. Is it a case for a whole new body practically? Neil.

Hey folks, I have a first run E train with sound. I have been noticing recently that PC-1 is getting noisy when running trailing. I have run it with the body off and the noise seems to be coming from where the universal joint runs over the top of the bogie pivot. I have oiled the area and it's still quite noisy. Any thoughts or tips on what to try? TIA Neil.

I've got a sound fitted Silverfox version of 18100. Can't remember who it might have been as I got it second hand. But it's pretty convincing and is nicely different from the other gas turbines with sound. Neil.

I managed to get a good price on a new Mk2 NDM from Mick at Durham Trains. You can maybe see the problem I have since I have a 14-car Mk1 set with just one motorised NDM. Plus I had already bought the sound chips for the vehicles. So first problem is the change in couplings. Easy enough to change one magnet to an older coupling and put the magnets between the two NDMs. Next, I have an 8pin sound decoder and a very narrow 21pin socket, not so easy. It's particularly annoying since changing to a 21 pin brings no additional functionality for the model, no lights or other features for the NDM. So the change in socket is a complete waste and an inconvenience to those who already had decoders. Hornby of coarse have form with this. I'm just going to wire the decoder in direct as it would need to go inside the body regardless to allow tilting to be unobstructed. A frustrating model strikes again! Neil.

Easiest way to do this with any two locos is to run them at full speed either along side or following and adjust the fastest one down using CV5 to get them both at the same speed. Then match your other CVs for start voltage, acceleration and braking and you should be pretty close if not spot on. Neil.

How do you tell the bogies apart? What are the differences? Neil.

Not in the market for this model, but in terms of DCC chips, for fine motor control, Zimo wins hands down straight out the box. The ESU needs a bit of work to get smooth take offs. To my mind early EMUs tended to be quite jerky with their acceleration, so an ESU would be fine. I have them in my Class 303s but have Zimos in my Blue Pullman and PWM 165. Neil.